St. Thomas More Catholic Church 298 BAY ST, BRIGHTON-LE -SANDS, NSW 2216,

Australia Phone: 9567 3589

Parish Priest : Fr Manuel Santiago.

Weekend Mass Times: Sat: 5.30pm, Sun: 8, 10am & 7pm

Confessions 4.30pm—5.15 pm Saturday Afternoons

17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C) 28TH JULY 2019

1st Reading Gen 18:20-32 The Lord said, 'How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.' The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, 'Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?' The Lord replied, 'If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.' Abraham replied, 'I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?' 'No,' he replied, 'I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.' Again Abraham said to him, 'Perhaps there will be only forty there.' 'I will not do it' he replied 'for the sake of the forty.' Abraham said, 'I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.' 'I will not do it' he replied 'if I find thirty there.' He said, 'I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.' 'I will not destroy it' he replied 'for the sake of the twenty.' He said, 'I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.' 'I will not destroy it' he replied 'for the sake of the ten.' Thanks be to God.

Resp Psalm: Ps 137:1-3. 6-8 R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth. Before the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple. R.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul. R.

The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly and the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of affliction you give me life and frustrate my foes. R.

You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands. R.

2nd Reading: Col 2:12-14 You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins. He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Acclamation: Romans 8:15 Alleluia, alleluia! You have received the Spirit which makes us God's children, and in that Spirit we call God our Father. Alleluia!

Gospel : Luke 11:1-13 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.' He said to them, 'Say this when you pray: "Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test."' He also said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, "My friend, lend me three loaves because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him"; and the man answers from inside the house, "Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you." I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants. 'So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. what father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!' The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Lost Items - If an item is left behind, and you find it, please take it to the Sacristy .

PARISH DIRECTORY

Parish Office Hours. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Details : Phone: 9567 3589 Email: office@thomasmorebrighton.org.au Finance Chairman : Mr Patrick Bugden WEB SITE : www.thomasmorebrighton.org.au St Thomas More Primary School: Tel: 9597 5884 - Principal Mrs Jenny Frost

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney’s policy on the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young persons is available on the Back Notice Board — www.sydneycatholic.org

ALL parishioners, volunteers and parish families are asked to take the time to look at the rear notice board and make yourself, and in particular those with families—familiar with what the Archdiocese has in Place in regards to the Recent Safeguarding Response. Please be aware that the Parish has a safeguarding officer, any questions or concerns can be confidentially discussed with the Safeguarding officer . All contact details of the Parish Safeguarding Officer and those of the Archdiocese can be found on the back notice board.

Childrens’ Liturgy In RECESS! Returns in February!.

This Week ahead in the parish

4 Feb Mon

9am Communion Service– Followed by Rosary

5 Feb Tue

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary

St Agatha

6 Feb Wed

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary

St Paul Miki and Companions

7 Feb Thur

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary

8 Feb Fri

8.15 Adoration 9am Mass—Followed by Rosary

9 Feb Sat

4.30pm—Confessions— 5.30 - Vigil Mass— 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

10 Feb Sun

8 am , 10am Morning Mass

7pm Evening Mass

Prayer for Child Protection

Lord, you asked that the little children be allowed to come to you, for it is such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. You entrust them to the care and protection of our communities of faith. Guide us as we strive to ensure that our Catholic Communities provide a safe environment for each child. We pray especially for all those who have been harmed in their childhood, give them courage in facing the past and lead them to your healing protection. Amen

7pm Sunday Evening Mass.

Last Mass in St George/Sutherland Area!

Bethany College will be holding their 2019 Open Day on 5 March from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. Meet the Principal at 4.30pm

Enrolling Year 7, 2021 Enrolment packages will be available on the day

Visitor Offering Envelopes are now available at the back of the church - Visitors to the parish are encouraged to use these envelopes for your offering—please place them on either collection—Thank you

EVERY FRIDAY—8.15AM ADORATION BEFORE MASS

2019 Rosters are now available—they are located on the top of the organ

Volunteers Needed—there are spots on our Liturgy Roster for those that can help out—please call the office if you are able to help.

We remember and pray for all our family and friends.

The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass was offered this week for :

Sick and other intentions— All our Parishioners who are sick at the moment; Jesse Valenzuela, Bernice Fahey;

Recently Deceased: Ivan Soljic; June Waters; Garry Hood.

Deceased/Anniversaries— Lee Say Hun; Lee Bok Soon and Pammy; Sixto Rubio; Mary Gatt (31/1/2018); John Sultana; Evelyn Aca; Mary Cassidy; Doreen Grady (29/1/2009) John (Reg) Grady (5/2/2009), Herbert Fenech; The Holy Souls in Purgatory;

2nd Sunday of the month

9 February 5.30 PM (Sat) Vigil

10 February 8:00 AM (Sun)

10 February 10:00 AM (Sun)

C S Barakat Ave Maria Choir

L F McManus, A Beltran

S Barakat, J Meagher

M Pirotta, L Adams

E C Rees, L Manalac

T Lenzo, T Liaw

G Ataya, J Meagher

A M Tomasiello R Hung

M Raymundo P Healion

M Diel R Legaspi

Dear Parishioners, Please be aware of the closest exit doors in the church. Should a fire occur please exit the church and proceed to the Carpark behind the church—this area is the designated meeting area. Fr Manuel and the Acolytes will be your fire wardens and will give you instructions.

Lost Items - If an item is left behind, and you find it, please take it to the Sacristy .

PARISH DIRECTORY

Parish Office Hours. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Details : Phone: 9567 3589 Email: office@thomasmorebrighton.org.au Finance Chairman : Mr Patrick Bugden WEB SITE : www.thomasmorebrighton.org.au St Thomas More Primary School: Tel: 9597 5884 - Principal Mrs Jenny Frost

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney’s policy on the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young persons is available on the Back Notice Board — www.sydneycatholic.org ALL parishioners, volunteers and parish families are asked to take the time to make yourself aware and familiar with what the Archdiocese has in place in regards to the Recent Safeguarding Response. Please consult firstly with the Parish Priest or the Parish safeguarding officer any questions or concerns will be confidentially discussed. All contact details of the Parish Safeguarding Officer and those of the Archdiocese can be found on the back notice board. A message from the Archdiocese of Sydney Abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with a crime are the police. If you – or anyone you know – have been abused, please contact the police. Alternatively, you can contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 9390 5810 or safeguardingenquiries@sydneycatholic.org. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

Prayer for Child Protection Lord, you asked that the little children be allowed to come to you, for it is such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. You entrust them to the care and protection of our communities of faith. Guide us as we strive to ensure that our Catholic Communities provide a safe environment for each child. We pray especially for all those who have been harmed in their childhood, give them courage in facing the past and lead them to your healing protection. Amen

This week …….. 2nd of August -First Friday— 8.15 am Adoration/

Exposition , Mass and Rosary

NO FIRST SATURDAY MASS THIS MONTH DUE TO ORDINATIONS IN THE CITY

Mass Intention Envelopes are located at the back of the Church, It is always helpful to give at least a weeks notice if you wish a particular intention mentioned at a certain time Mass.

Would you like to contribute to our Envelope PLAN GIVING? Forms are located at the back of the church, please place your completed form in any collection bag during Mass.

This Week ahead in the parish

29 July Mon

9am Mass —Followed by Rosary— St Martha

30 July Tue

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary

31 July Wed

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary St Ignatius of Loyola

1 August Thur

9am Mass—Followed by Rosary St Alphonsus Mary Liguori

2 August Fri

First Friday Adoration 8.15am 9 am Mass Followed by Rosary St Peter Faber

3 August Sat

NO 9AM MASS TODAY —4.30pm—Confessions 5.30 - Vigil Mass

4 August Sun

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (c)— 8 am Mass 10am Mass 7pm Mass

Tribunal of the Catholic Church Reaching out to all who have experienced a marriage breakdown and question the validity of their first marriage as understood by the Church. Enquiries: Ph (02) 6239 9813 Email: tribunal@cg.org.au

Visiting Rome? Stay at Domus Australia. Domus Australia is a 32-room Boutique Pilgrim Guesthouse estab-lished by the Australian Catholic Church, welcoming travellers to Rome seeking comfortable accommodation and an ideal base from which to explore historical and cultural sites of the Eternal City. Centrally located with a magnificently restored Chapel featur-ing daily Mass in English, Domus Australia is the perfect oasis in the heart of Rome for Aussie pilgrims. Enquiries reserva-tions@domusaustralia.org www.domusaustralia.org

We remember and pray for

all especially….

All our Parishioners who are sick at the Moment;

Those in our family who are recently Deceased;

Those whose Anniversaries occur during this

time;

For the Holy Souls in Purgatory;

For our generous benefactors;

And for those offering Prayers of Thanksgiving

GOT YOUR WEDDING UNDER CONTROL?

But how prepared are you for mar-

riage? Engaged Encounter provides you with

deeper insights into each other and into

married life. We give you a chance to spend

time together to strengthen and enrich your

relationship. For further information see our

web site: www.engagedencounter.org.au

PARISH NEWS/EVENTS

With the Cold weather now upon us may our parish be one that exudes warmth, hospitality and friendliness.

Kids’ Bulletin. This Kids Bulletin is produced to enable both children and parents/grandparents to teach or talk about the weekly readings as well as learn about saints or other

interesting catholic facts.

NEW—

ALL WELCOME!

Ages: From birth to 5 years

When: Thursdays from 9:00-10:30am (school terms only)

Where: St Thomas More's Catholic School Library

Cost: $2 per child (first session is FREE!)

For more information: Phone: (02) 9597 5884

Email: info@stmbrighton.catholic.edu.au

Please Consider – Extraordinary Ministers of Holy

Communion—and Acolytes!

For those interested in this Ministry (and those wishing to attend the Acolytes Training Course as this course is a pre-requisite), a two-night training course will be held: When: Wednesday, 7th and 14th August 2019 Time: 7 to 9pm Where: Our Lady of the Rosary Jubilee hall 4 Roma Avenue Kensington (Please Note: both sessions are to be attended to receive certificate) Required: 1) Completed Registration Form (available from Fr Manuel) 2) Endorsement by the Parish Priest 3) Copy of Birth Certificate This course would also be an opportunity for current Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Acolytes to renew their understanding of their ministry, as well as to support and mentor those undertaking training.

What is New on the STM Website !

A New STM Youth Information Page Get more information on the upcoming:-

Youth Ignite Conference and Fr Rob Galea ‘Coming Home’ Concert Tour

WEB SITE :

www.thomasmorebrighton.org.au

Prayer for Grandparents. Good Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, parents of Mary and grandparents to

Jesus, be with me and all who hold a special role guiding as grandparents do,

that we may be wise and loving, may share our time and stories and sense of humour, and may enjoy and not spoil too much the grandchildren, and those who are close to

our hearts, for they are the sign of God's life to us.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with our grandchildren and all other grandchildren

that they may love and respect their grandparents and all older people, may

remember to call, visit or write, and grow in wisdom, age and grace before God.

Amen

Rite of First Holy Communion 2019

Sunday 25th August during the 10.00am Mass .

This Sunday the Candidates for 1st Communion will be enrolled at each Mass over the weekend. We wel-

come to the Mass the Candidates, their Families, Catechists and Teachers to this very special liturgy.

A prayer card with the name of each candidate will be available for parishioners to take home and to pray reg-ularly for them during the time of preparation.

Let us all as a community make a special effort to re-member these candidates and their families through our prayers over the next few weeks— Fr Manuel

Catholic Works Fund Appeal- next weekend. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney will be holding a CWF Parish appeal, next weekend 3rd and 4th August 2019, and the Development and Fundraising Office turns to you for your continued support in facilitating this ap-peal. Your assistance helps raise funds for many of our important works across the Archdiocese of Sydney, in-cluding providing family counselling, sharing the gospel to youth, forming our seminarians, outreach to Aboriginal communities and support for our Cathoilc deaf community. The agencies which provide the above services in-cludes CatholicCare, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, our seminaries and the Ephpheta Centre.

Walk with Christ—save the date for a very special celebration for all Sydney Catholics. Please join your fellow Sydneysiders in the Walk with Christ annual Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Sydney on the Feast of Christ The King on November 24 at 2.30pm. Thousands of

people took part in last year’s joyful public proclamation and act of worship to invoke Christ’s

blessing upon our beautiful city.

Meet at the corner of Martin Place & Pitt Street at 2.30pm on November 24.

WE PRAY TO A FRIEND

After learning from the attitude of the Good Samaritan on being a neighbour and the hospitality of

Martha and Mary, the Gospel this Sunday speaks about our prayer and our friendship with God. Actually

when we pray, we pray to a friend like the one in the story who sets aside his discomfort to help. The man

in the parable who needed help believed he went to a true friend, that he was liked by him, and that the

initial resistance would be overcome. This is the point of the parable: when we pray, we go to a friend.

This parable is a contrast. Even if a friend may not always respond to our need, he may have to

overcome hesitations and reservations before helping out. When we pray, we do not meet such attitude in

God. We do not have to convince him, for he is on our side. Rather, we may have to discern if we are on

God’s side.

Does God Answer? There are things we ask God and do not get. There are other things we do not ask, but which he is very willing to give. We are asking for a material gift, whereas he has spiritual gift. We think our spouse or parent has to change, and God thinks we have to change. We think the system has to be overhauled and he thinks our values have to be modified. We pray for success that may bolster our pride but he thinks of a purifying experience that will make us humbler in our relationship with others. We pray for things outside ourselves that will bring happiness but he thinks of the happiness we have to find in our own hearts. Prayer will never fulfil all our wishes, free us from all pain, or guarantee us a life which everything runs smoothly. Prayer, however will always give us the Spirit to help us obey the will of the Father. [Source: Fr Paul Foulon, C.I.C.M., From Spring to Life, Sunday Gospel Reflections—Year C, Maryhill School of Theology]

In praying, this is, what one notices

I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I may learn to obey. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power and the praise of the people [or “likes” on my Facebook account] I was given weakness to sense my need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for; in spite of myself, my prayers were answered— I am among all people most richly blest.

Grandparents,

Pope Francis calling a humorous anecdote, at one of his general audiences in St. Peter’s Square ….. He saw an older woman in the crowd and had his driver stop the pope-mobile to greet her. Getting out of the car, he asked the women her age. Saying she was Ninety-two, Francis said he asked her for her “recipe” for living so long… She responded, joking : “I eat ravioli”. “This is a anecdote to tell you that you always find a surprise with grandparents,” Francis told the some 7000 youth gathered with him. “Grandparents always surprise us; They know how to listen to us, they have patience.” Source— 10 things Pope Francis wants you to know about the Family—

Joshua J McElwee.

One can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the

conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is

the place of this conquest and encounter, in poverty and in

faith.— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2710

APPLICATION: What is it that I’m asking from God for my life? What is it that I’m asking from God for my family? What is it that I’m asking from God for others?